By Ernie Esconde/PNA
SAMAL, Bataan — Green mussels or “tahong” were again sold in Bataan markets on Saturday after the shellfish ban due to red tide was lifted on Thursday.
“Ngayon okay na, wala nang red tide sa Bataan. Maraming salamat (Now, it is already okay. There is no more red tide in Bataan. Thank you very much),” said Clarissa Boyo, tahong vendor in a makeshift stall in this town.
She said that one “gallon” of “tahong” and oysters or “talaba” costs PHP100. She said oysters will be available on Sunday.
“Nakaka-miss kumain ng tahong. Paborito ito ng mga anak ko (We missed eating tahong. This is my children’s favorite),” Rina Saldana said while buying the shellfish.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued a shellfish advisory on February 7 that the coastal waters in the towns of Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay, and Mariveles and the City of Balanga were already free from the red tide toxin.
Samples gathered from the area for three consecutive weeks were found negative for paralytic shellfish poison.
With the advisory, the harvesting, gathering and marketing of shellfish in Bataan are now permitted as marine bivalve products are already safe for human consumption.
On November 24 last year, BFAR issued a shellfish ban due to the presence of red tide in Bataan.
